There’s more to perfecting the perfect, bronzed complection than you might think and we’ve got the 101.
With spring well on its way (yes, we may have unsuccessfully tried to sit outside a pub garden this weekend) – we feel in need of a healthy tanned glow in order to bare our legs and get out our spring wardrobe.
So, with thoughts of fake tan in mind, we have put together our top tips so that you can go from pasty to bronzed goddess. Happy tanning!
a. Exfoliate
Preparation for tanning should begin 24 hours in advance. Prep your skin by waxing where necessary and exfoliating. We love Balance Me’s Super Toning Body Polish, £18, it’s gentle but it does the job – plus it smells delicious. You’ll jump out the shower feeling ready to hit the beach.
Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish
b. Moisturise
Use a good moisturiser to make sure your skin is supple, soft and acts as a good base for your tan. Kiehl’s Crème de Corps, from £8.50, is a definite top all-rounder in the moisturiser stakes. Another handy tip: pop a bit of Vaseline on particularly dry areas like elbows and between the cracks in your fingers to prevent unsightly orange patches!
Kiehl’s Crème de Corps
c. Research
Finding the right self-tanning product can be daunting for first-timers. Our advice is to research your products well, find out what you want, and just do a bit of trial and error! In our experience you can’t go wrong with the classic St. Tropez range, but we also recommend Sienna X Q10 Bronzing Mousse, £24.95.
Sienna X Q10 Bronzing Mousse
d. Apply before bed
Pop the tan on before you go to bed, the product should have time to sink in while you sleep and in the morning, jump straight in the shower and pat gently dry once out. Just be sure to wear old dark pyjamas and use those Primark bed sheets you’ve been keeping at the back of the cupboard!
- Be prepared to start again!
With all beauty regimes, a lot of our know-how comes from going wrong and trying again. So in this case, use a product such as St. Tropez Tan Remover, £10.50, to get rid of any areas gone wrong.
Practice makes perfect!
St. Tropez Tan Remover
Source: Godphraim in Look edit
